Man and Maid

I jumped--I had never contemplated the possibility of Nina marrying, she

has always been a widowed institution, with her nice little house in

Queen Street, and that wonderful cook.

"What on earth for?"

"I want the companionship and devotion of one man."

"Anyone in view?"

"Yes--one or two--they say there is a shortage of men, I have never

known so many men in my life."

Then presently, when she had finished her tea, she said-"You are absolutely out of gear, Nicholas--Your voice is rasping, your

remarks are bitter, and you must be awfully unhappy, poor boy."

I told her that I was--there was no use in lying.

"Everything is finished," I said, and she bent down and kissed me as she

said good-bye--a mother's kiss.

* * * * *

And now I am alone, and what shall I do all the evening? or all the

other evenings--? I will send for Suzette to dine.

* * * * *

Night--Suzette--was amusing--. I told her at once I did not require

her to be affectionate.

"You can have an evening's rest from blandishments, Suzette."

"Merci!"--and then she stretched herself, kicked up her little feet,

in their short-vamped, podgy little shoes, with four-inch heels, and lit

a cigarette.

"Life is hard, Mon ami"--she told me--"And now that the English are

here, it is difficult to keep from falling in love."

For a minute I thought she was going to insinuate that I had aroused her

reflection--I warmed--but no--She had taken me seriously when I told her

I required no blandishments.

That ugly little twinge came to me again.

"You like the English?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"They are very bons garçons, they are clean, and they are fine men,

they have sentiment, too--Yes, it is difficult not to feel," she sighed.

"What do you do when you fall in love then, Suzette?"

"Mon ami, I immediately go for a fortnight to the sea--one is lost if

one falls in love dans le metier--The man tramples then--tramples and

slips off--For everything good one must never feel."

"But you have a kind heart Suzette--you feel for me?"

"Hein?"--and she showed all her little white pointed

teeth--"Thou?--Thou art very rich, mon chou. Women will always feel

for thee!"

It went in like a knife it was so true--.

"I was a very fine Englishman once," I said.

"It is possible, thou art still, sitting, and showing the right

profile--and full of chic--and then rich, rich!"